Epson EcoTank ET-2850, ET-3850 and ET-4850: How They Differ

On this page (8 sections)

1. How do Epson EcoTank ET-2850, ET-3850, and ET-4850 differ?
2. Is the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 enough for home printing?
3. How should you set up and refill the ET-2850?
4. When is the ET-3850 worth considering?
5. What does the ET-4850 add for an office?
6. Should you consider the Epson ET-4800 instead?
7. What mistakes should you avoid when choosing an Epson EcoTank?
8. Which Epson EcoTank should you choose?

The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is a practical choice for home printing if you want refillable ink tanks, scanning, copying, and automatic two-sided printing without paying for office features you may not use. The ET-3850 adds an automatic document feeder and faster stated speeds, while the ET-4850 adds fax.

All four models here print in color and scan and copy. To choose well, focus on your routine: occasional home documents call for less than stacks of paperwork, regular batch printing, or a need to fax.

How do Epson EcoTank ET-2850, ET-3850, and ET-4850 differ?

The ET-2850 covers everyday home tasks, the ET-3850 adds an automatic document feeder, and the ET-4850 adds fax. Both the ET-3850 and ET-4850 have faster stated print speeds than the ET-2850.

The ET-2850 has a flatbed scanner and color display. The ET-3850 also has a flatbed scanner and a larger color display, while the ET-4850 has a flatbed scanner and a 2.4 in color touchscreen.

If low-cost refills are a key reason you are considering a tank printer, see our guide to printers with cheap ink. For broader home options, compare the home printer guide.

Is the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 enough for home printing?

Choose the ET-2850 for regular home documents, schoolwork, and occasional color printing if you don't need a document feeder. It combines printing with a flatbed scanner and copier, plus wireless printing and automatic two-sided printing.

The included ink set has one black Epson 502 bottle and one each of cyan, magenta, and yellow. Epson says the included ink can last up to 2 years, though actual use varies and some ink is used during initial setup.

The ET-2850 is a good fit when you scan one page at a time or mostly print ordinary household documents. Skip it if your routine often involves scanning a stack of forms, printing larger batches quickly, or using fax.

The stated print speeds are 10.5 pages per minute in black and 5 in color. Those figures make the ET-2850 the slower choice among these three, so frequent batch printing points toward the ET-3850 or ET-4850.

What does the Epson ET-2850 offer for daily tasks?

The ET-2850 handles print, scan, and copy jobs, with automatic two-sided printing for documents that use both sides of the paper. Wireless connectivity and the Epson Smart Panel app support printing from a smart device.

Its flatbed scanner is suited to single sheets and items that need to lie flat. If you regularly digitize multipage documents, an automatic document feeder can save you from placing each page on the scanner one by one.

For a wider look at models for different household needs, browse our Epson printer guide for home use. The ET-2850 also fits the all-in-one category, where scanning and copying are built into the printer.

How should you set up and refill the ET-2850?

Set the ET-2850 up where you can reach the tanks and scanner easily, then follow the printer's setup prompts before sending a first print job. Initial setup uses some ink, so don't treat the first fill as the same yield you should expect from later replacement sets.

The EcoFit bottles are designed to make tank filling easy. Use the correct Epson 502 bottle for each tank, check the tank labels as you fill, and avoid mixing colors or forcing a bottle into the wrong opening.

Epson recommends genuine ink for print quality and performance. It also says non-genuine ink could cause damage that is not covered by the limited warranty, so factor the bottle type into your ongoing supply plan.

If the printer will sit unused for long stretches, print often enough to keep it in regular use and follow Epson's care instructions if print quality changes. For questions about ink shelf life and storage, see what to know about printer ink expiration.

When is the ET-3850 worth considering?

Choose the ET-3850 if you scan multipage documents or print more often than a typical household. Its automatic document feeder handles a stack of pages, and its stated speeds are higher than the ET-2850's.

It also offers automatic two-sided printing, a flatbed scanner, and Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet connectivity. That mix suits a home office where paperwork is routine or a wired network connection is useful.

Skip the ET-3850 if you seldom scan paperwork and the ET-2850 already covers your print volume. An added feeder and higher speed matter most when they solve a regular task, not just because they appear on a feature list.

For more choices across printer types, use our home office printer guide. If an ink tank is not essential, our inkjet printer guide for home use covers other home setups.

How does the ET-3850 help with paperwork?

The automatic document feeder lets you scan multipage paperwork without placing each sheet on the flatbed separately. That is useful for forms, invoices, or records you need to digitize in batches.

Its stated speeds are 15.5 pages per minute in black and 8.5 in color. Those numbers are higher than the ET-2850's stated speeds, making the ET-3850 the stronger fit for busier print routines among the two.

What does the ET-4850 add for an office?

Choose the ET-4850 when fax is part of your office routine. It also prints, scans, and copies, with automatic two-sided printing and mobile printing options that include Apple AirPrint, Android Printing, and Epson Smart Panel.

Its stated speeds match the ET-3850 at 15.5 pages per minute in black and 8.5 in color. A document feeder is not specified for the ET-4850, so don't assume it replaces the ET-3850 for multipage scanning.

The ET-4850 uses Epson 502 bottles, like the ET-2850 and ET-3850. Skip it if you don't need fax and a feeder matters more, because the ET-3850 is the clearer fit for multipage scanning.

Should you consider the Epson ET-4800 instead?

Consider the ET-4800 if you want an automatic document feeder and fax in one EcoTank all-in-one. It differs from the other models here because it uses Epson 522 bottles and handles two-sided printing manually.

Its stated speeds are 10 pages per minute in black and 5 in color. That is a slower pace than the ET-3850 and ET-4850, and manual two-sided printing means you'll need to turn pages yourself when you want to print on both sides.

Choose the ET-4800 when its feeder and fax features suit your work and you are comfortable with manual duplexing. Skip it if automatic two-sided printing is a priority or you want to use the Epson 502 bottles included with the other three models.

What mistakes should you avoid when choosing an Epson EcoTank?

Match the printer to the tasks you repeat most often, not to the longest feature list. A model with fax will not help if you never fax, and a flatbed scanner can become tedious if you scan multipage paperwork every week.

Check the ink type before buying replacement bottles. The ET-2850, ET-3850, and ET-4850 use Epson 502; the ET-4800 uses Epson 522, so those supplies are not interchangeable.

Don't assume every EcoTank model includes the same paper-handling features. The ET-3850 and ET-4800 specify an automatic document feeder, while one is not specified for the ET-2850 or ET-4850.

Also account for the setup ink used before comparing expected yields. Epson says some included ink goes toward initial setup, and real results vary with print tasks, volume, and use.

Which Epson EcoTank should you choose?

Pick the ET-2850 for everyday home use, the ET-3850 for frequent multipage scanning, and the ET-4850 when fax is essential. Choose the ET-4800 if its feeder and fax combination matters more than automatic two-sided printing and its different ink type is acceptable.

Before you decide, count how often you scan multiple pages, print in batches, or send faxes. If those office tasks are rare, the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 keeps the feature set focused; for other household options, compare our guide to Epson printers for home use.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between the Epson ET-2850 and ET-3850?

The ET-3850 adds an automatic document feeder and has higher stated print speeds: 15.5 pages per minute in black and 8.5 in color, compared with the ET-2850's 10.5 and 5. Both have refillable ink tanks, scanning, copying, and automatic two-sided printing.

Does the Epson ET-4850 have fax?

Yes, Epson describes the ET-4850 as including fax capability. It also has a flatbed scanner, automatic two-sided printing, and mobile printing options.

Choose it if fax is part of your routine; otherwise, compare the ET-3850's feeder and the ET-2850's simpler feature set.

Is the Epson ET-2850 good for home use?

The ET-2850 suits home printing if you want a refillable tank all-in-one with scanning, copying, and automatic two-sided printing. Its stated speed is lower than the ET-3850 and ET-4850, so consider those models if you print often or need an automatic document feeder.

What ink do these Epson EcoTank printers use?

The ET-2850, ET-3850, and ET-4850 include Epson 502 ink bottles: one black bottle and one each of cyan, magenta, and yellow. Epson recommends genuine ink for print quality and performance, and says non-genuine ink could cause damage not covered under the limited warranty.